Resource material
BTech I year (2013-14): Electronics Workshop
Electrical & Electronic Symbols
Symbol Component name Meaning
Wire Symbols
Electrical Wire Conductor of electrical current
Connected Wires Connected crossing
Not Connected Wires Wires are not connected
Ground Symbols
Earth Ground
Used for zero potential
reference and electrical shock
protection.
Chassis Ground
Connected to the chassis of the
circuit
Digital / Common Ground
Resistor Symbols
Resistor (IEEE)
Resistor reduces the current
flow.
Resistor (IEC)
Potentiometer (IEEE)
Adjustable resistor - has 3
terminals.
Potentiometer (IEC)
Variable Resistor /
Rheostat(IEEE)
Adjustable resistor - has 2
terminals.
Variable Resistor /
Rheostat(IEC)
Trimmer Resistor Preset resistor
Thermistor
Thermal resistor - change
resistance when temperature
changes
Photoresistor / Light
dependent resistor (LDR)
Photo-resistor - change
resistance with light intensity
change
Capacitor Symbols
Capacitor
Capacitor is used to store
electric charge. It acts as short
circuit with AC and open circuit
with DC.
Capacitor
Polarized Capacitor Electrolytic capacitor
Polarized Capacitor Electrolytic capacitor
Variable Capacitor Adjustable capacitance
Inductor / Coil Symbols
Inductor
Coil / solenoid that generates
magnetic field
Iron Core Inductor Includes iron
Variable Inductor
Power Supply Symbols
Voltage Source Generates constant voltage
Current Source Generates constant current.
AC Voltage Source AC voltage source
Generator
Electrical voltage is generated
by mechanical rotation of the
generator
Battery Cell Generates constant voltage
Battery Generates constant voltage
Controlled Voltage
Source
Generates voltage as a
function of voltage or current of
other circuit element.
Controlled Current
Source
Generates current as a function
of voltage or current of other
circuit element.
Meter Symbols
Voltmeter
Measures voltage. Has very
high resistance. Connected in
parallel.
Ammeter
Measures electric current. Has
near zero resistance.
Connected serially.
Ohmmeter Measures resistance
Wattmeter Measures electric power
Lamp / Light Bulb Symbols
Lamp / light bulb
Generates light when current
flows through
Lamp / light bulb
Lamp / light bulb
Diode / LED Symbols
Diode
Diode allows current flow in
one direction only (left to right).
Zener Diode
Allows current flow in one
direction, but also can flow in
the reverse direction when
above breakdown voltage
Schottky Diode
Schottky diode is a diode with
low voltage drop
Varactor / Varicap Diode Variable capacitance diode
Tunnel Diode
Light Emitting Diode
(LED)
LED emits light when current
flows through
Photodiode
Transistor Symbols
NPN Bipolar Transistor
PNP Bipolar Transistor
Darlington Transistor
JFET-N Transistor
JFET-P Transistor
NMOS Transistor
PMOS Transistor
Misc. Symbols
Motor
Transformer
Electric bell
Photodiode allows current flow
when exposed to light
Allows current flow when high
potential at base (middle)
Allows current flow when low
potential at base (middle)
Made from 2 bipolar
transistors. Has total gain of
the product of each gain.
N-channel field effect transistor
P-channel field effect transistor
N-channel MOSFET transistor
P-channel MOSFET transistor
Electric motor
Change AC voltage from high
to low or low to high.
Rings when activated
Buzzer
Fuse
Fuse
Loudspeaker
Microphone
Operational Amplifier
Schmitt Trigger
Analog-to-digital
converter (ADC)
Digital-to-Analog
converter (DAC)
Crystal Oscillator
Antenna Symbols
Antenna / aerial
Produce buzzing sound
The fuse disconnects when
current above threshold. Used
to protect circuit from high
currents.
Converts electrical signal to
sound waves
Converts sound waves to
electrical signal
Amplify input signal
Operates with hysteresis to
reduce noise.
Converts analog signal to
digital numbers
Converts digital numbers to
analog signal
Used to generate precise
frequency clock signal
Transmits & receives radio
Antenna / aerial
waves
Dipole Antenna
Two wires simple antenna
Logic Gates Symbols
NOT Gate (Inverter) Outputs 1 when input is 0
AND Gate
Outputs 1 when both inputs are
1.
NAND Gate
Outputs 0 when both inputs are
1. (NOT + AND)
OR Gate Outputs 1 when any input is 1.
NOR Gate
Outputs 0 when any input is 1.
(NOT + OR)
XOR Gate
Outputs 1 when inputs are
different. (Exclusive OR)
D Flip-Flop Stores one bit of data
